The Destruction of Memory

A film screening followed by a panel discussion with Professor Andrea Witcomb, Deakin University; Professor Ben Smith, UWA; Dr John Taylor, UWA; Rebecca Repper, Oxford University and UWA.

A powerful award-winning film on the war against culture, and the battle to save it.

Over the past century, cultural destruction has wrought catastrophic results across the globe. In Syria and Iraq, the ‘cradle of civilization’, millennia of culture have been destroyed. But the push to protect, salvage and rebuild has moved in step with the destruction. Legislation and policy have played a role, and heroic individuals have risked and lost their lives to protect not just other human beings, but our cultural identity — to save the record of who we are.

Based on the book of the same name by Robert Bevan, The Destruction of Memory tells the whole story — looking not just at the ongoing actions of Daesh (ISIS) and at other contemporary situations, but revealing the decisions of the past that allowed the issue to remain hidden in the shadows for so many years. Interviewees in the film include the Director-General of UNESCO, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, as well as diverse and distinguished international experts, whose voices combine to address this urgent issue.

The film has screened in a wide range of settings, including at the British Museum, for UNESCO, at universities such as Harvard, Brown and Oxford, and at film festivals globally.

Panelists

Andrea Witcomb is Professor of Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies at Deakin University. Her research focuses on the interpretation of difficult histories and heritage sites. Her books include Reimagining the Museum and (with Kate Gregory) From the Barracks to the Burrup: The National Trust in Western Australia.

Benjamin Smith is Associate Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Education. He is Professor of World Rock Art. He coordinates the Master of Heritage Studies. He is President of the International Committee on Rock Art of the International Council on Monuments and Sites and a former President of the PanAfrican Archaeological Association. He is happiest when working in remote rural areas with communities on matters of importance to them concerning their heritage.

John Taylor FRAIA M.ICOMOS BArch(UWA), MA (York), PhD (UWA) is a national and international award winner for heritage work. John has extensive experience and knowledge of Australian heritage, combining valuable technological expertise within the adaptive re-use of heritage places. He is an Honorary Research Fellow at UWA.

Rebecca Repper is an affiliate researcher with the Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East and North Africa Project, University of Oxford. Using satellite imagery, the project maintains a photographic database and monitors threats to cultural heritage in the region. Rebecca is particularly interested in photographic archives and the accurate communication and utilisation of these resources.

Chair and MC

Jenny Gregory AM is Emeritus Professor of History at UWA. She has published widely on aspects of urban history and heritage. She is an Executive Member of the National Trust WA, after many years as Chair and President, was a member of the Heritage Council of WA and is currently President of the History Council of WA.